The World Series of Poker is almost here again, and if you’re a no-limit hold’em lifer, you already know the script:
Eight weeks. One game. Endless downswings.
The soul-sucking line at Paris.
The guy coughing into his hoodie.
The bubble tankers folding 7-2 offsuit like it’s for their tournament life.
By week three, you’re wondering if you’ve made a huge mistake.
But what if it didn’t have to be this way?
What if there was a way to survive the grind — even thrive in it — and walk away feeling like a better, sharper, more complete poker player?
That lifeline? Mixed games.
🌀 Why Mixed Games Save You — and Your NLH Edge
NLH tournaments are a meat grinder. Even perfect play gets crushed by a two-outer on the river. It’s brutal. Repetitive. Emotionally draining.
Mixed games are the antidote.
They bring back curiosity. They force you to think differently. They challenge you when the hold’em haze has dulled your edge.
And best of all? They make you better at NLH.
-
Razz drills patience when you’re ready to tilt.
-
Omaha Hi/Lo (O8) pushes you to reevaluate equity like never before.
-
2-7 Triple Draw revives your bluffing instincts.
Each game sharpens a different tool in your kit. And when you circle back to NLH, you’re not just another burned-out grinder — you’re dangerous.
♠ My Mixed-Game Refuge: Omaha Eight or Better
If I had to choose one, I’m all in on O8.
I fell in love with it two decades ago playing heads-up and short-handed online, and it’s still my reset button. Chasing a flush draw while freerolling the nut low? Chef’s kiss. Scooping the pot while everyone else thinks they’re splitting? That’s poker bliss.
O8 keeps me sharp when the NLH grind has dulled my edges.
🎥 Go Behind the Scenes: Baldy’s Mix on Twitch
Curious what this transition looks like in real time? I’m streaming the whole journey on Twitch — Baldy’s Mix.
I break down hands, share the learning curve, and invite you to level up with me. If you’ve ever wondered how a tournament pro approaches new formats, here’s your front-row seat.
🔥 Where I Play: Phenom Poker
When I’m not at the live tables, I’m on Phenom Poker — a mixed-game paradise.
They’re running everything: Razz, Stud, Badugi, 2-7, O8 — you name it. And here’s the kicker: just by playing, you earn equity in the platform.
That’s right — you’re not just grinding, you’re becoming an owner.
I’m proud to be an ambassador, and it’s been a game-changer for my WSOP prep.
🏁 TL;DR: Don’t Just Survive the Summer — Enjoy It
The WSOP doesn’t have to break you.
Mixed games are your escape route — and your edge.
Join me at Phenom Poker.
Hang out on Twitch.
Play curious. Stay sharp. And maybe — just maybe — rediscover the reason you fell in love with poker in the first place.
